Method and apparatus for a pallet load

ABSTRACT

A pallet load of product is secured onto a pallet by forming a sleeve of heat-shrinkable film around the pallet load with its open top extending above the pallet load and its open bottom extending below the platform of the pallet. One or both of the top and bottom surfaces of the pallet load are covered with a sheet of heat-shrinkable film having a portion extending beyond the corresponding surface. The sheet or sheets and the sleeve are shrunk and fused around the pallet load.

O Unlted States Patent [151 3,640,048 Zelnick et al. Feb. 8, 1972 [54]METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A 3,403,780 10/1968 Binkley et al ..206/65PALLET LOAD 3,495,375 2/1970 Burhop et al. ..53/33 M [72] Inventors:Sfilymour Zelnick, Orange, lNJ; Martin 3 5;; et a] 5 .chael wildmoser,Staten IS and NY.

[73] Assignee: Weldotron Corporation, Newark, NJ. PrimaryExaminer-Theron E. Condon Assistant Examiner-Eugene F. Desmond [22]Filed. Oct. 7, 1968 y y Cohen [2]] Appl. No.: 765,302

[57] ABSTRACT U.S. 84, A load 0f product is ecured onto a pallet fo inga 206/60 A sleeve of heat-shrinkable film around the pallet load withits [51] Int. Cl. ..B65b 11/10, B65b 53/02 open top extending above thepallet load and its Open bottom [58] Field of Search ..:..53/24, 26, 30,33, 157, 159, extending below the platform of the paneL o or both of th:53/184 206/60 214/6 top and bottom surfaces of the pallet load arecovered with a sheet of heat-shrinkable film having a portion extending[56] References Cited beyond the corresponding surface. The sheet orsheets and the UNITED STATES PATENTS sleeve are shrunk and fused aroundthe pallet load.

3,479,788 ll/l969 Dreyfus ..53/30 X 1] Claims, 11 Drawing Figures mamasan em 3,640,048

SHEET 1 BF 3 INVENTORS SEYMOUR ZELNICK MARTIN MICHAEL WILDMOSERBYAKKWCUL ATTORNEY PATENTEU FEB 8 I972 our/ ar 2:44:42

: 1004 zasmy 4-4 4% 9/557 F/ZM A5550 Mame 46 cur OFF 50415/1 0/0 47 i L42 c QM Hui INVENTORS SEYMOUR ZELNICK MARTIN MICHAEL WILDMOSER BYATTORNEY PATENIEDFEB am: 3540.048

saw am 3 6 v Z g I 364 if m y 1, X W i ii NF /28 L ill, 36d 1? H I /24'i "ll H 6c ,6 I Ififi i, i W 2 l aid H Ii I 36.6 364R I25 Ml i I I: m1i it 35 F G /0 36a 36b LYVENTORS SEYMOUR ZELNICK BYMARTIN MICHAELWIQLDMOSER fit llsi L ATTORNEY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A PALLET LOADDESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a methodand apparatus for fully wrapping an article. More particularly, theinvention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a sleeve ofplastic film tightly around an article including the entire top and/orbottom surfaces thereof.

The packaging of articles in thermoplastic film is well known.Advantageously, the film is heat shrinkable, is initially sealed aroundthe article, and is subsequently heated to shrink the film tightly aboutthe article. This initial sealed wrap may be accomplished manually, asfor example, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,047,991, issued to M. Siegel etal., on Dec. 14, 1965. In U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 706,601, by 'S.Zelnick, filed Feb. 19, 1968, there is shown a method and an apparatusfor shrink-film wrapping a pallet load. A load of product on a pallet iswrapped in a vertical sleeve of heat-shrinkable thermoplastic film whichis subsequently shrunk so that the entire pallet load is unitized,stabilized and protected against detrimental environmental conditions.The length of the vertical sleeve of film which is initially formedabout the pallet load before the subsequent shrinking of the film iscustomarily considerably longer than the vertical height of the palletload so as to allow sufficient film, on shrinking, for overlapping theperipheral margins of the top surface of the pallet load.

The film covering which leaves the top surface and/or bottom surface ofthe pallet load uncovered is sufficient for many applications. For someapplications, however, such as, for example, outdoor storage, the topsurface or the top and bottom surfaces of the pallet load or articlemust be covered. The top surface of the pallet load may be covered bydraping said pallet load with an inverted bag of heat-shrinkable filmwith the closedpart of said bag on top of said pallet load.

Theprincipal object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved method and apparatus for fully wrapping an articleautomatically.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatusfor fully wrapping an article with efficiency, effectiveness andreliability.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatusfor fully wrapping a pallet load automatically with rapidity.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method offully wrapping a pallet load covering one of the top and bottom surfacesof the pallet load with a sheet of heatshrinkable film having a portionextending beyond the one of the surfaces. The pallet load is encircledwith a primary sleeve of heat-shrinkable film having a portion extendingbeyond one of the surfaces of the pallet load. The sheet and the sleeveare fused and shrunk around the pallet load. The top surface of thepallet load may be covered with a sheet of heat-shrinkable film having aportion extending beyond the top surface, the bottom surface may cover asheet of heatshrinkable film having a portion extending away from thebottom surface. Each of the sheets and the sleeve are shrunk and fusedaround the pallet load. The top surface of the pallet load may becovered with the sheet of heat-shrinkable film. The bottom surface mayrest on a sheet of heat-shrinkable film having a portion extending belowthe platform of the pallet and the sleeve may extend below the platformof the pallet.

The sheets and the sleeve are compatible in respect to their fusingcapability. The bottom surface may rest on a sheet of heat-shrinkablefilm having a portion extending upward beyond the bottom surface. Thepallet load may comprise a plurality of layers and the surface ofselected ones of the layers of the pallet load may be covered withsheets of heat-shrinkable film each having a portion extending beyondthe covered surface of the corresponding layer. Each of the sheets isshrunk and fused to the sleeve. The pallet load may be covered by thesheet before it is encircled by the sleeve. The pallet load may beencircled by the sleeve before it is covered by the sheet. The surfaceof each of the layers of the pallet load may be, covered with a sheet offilm. The surface of selected ones of the layers of the pallet load maybe partially covered with strips of heat-shrinkable film each having aportion extending beyond the surface of the corresponding layer. Each ofthe strips is fused to the sleeve during the heat shrinking operation.The surface of each of the layers of the pallet load may be partiallycovered with a strip of film.

In accordance with the present invention, a method of providing a sleeveof plastic film tightly around an article including the entire topsurface thereof and the entire bottom surface thereof, comprisesproviding a path for the article. The top surface of the article iscovered with a sheet of heatshrinkable film having a portion extendingbeyond the top surfaces and along the sides of the article. The articleis placed on a sheet of heat-shrinkable film so that the bottom surfaceof the article covers the last-mentioned sheet and the last-mentionedsheet has a portion extending away from the bottom surface. The runningends of two webs of film from respective supplies thereof on oppositesides of the path are joined.

together in a vertical junction to provide a curtain of film across thepath. The article is advanced against the curtain of film to carry thecurtain' along the path, additional film is withdrawn from the suppliesand a bight is formed in the curtain around the article. Twospaced-apart portions of the bight of film are joined together in avertical junction closely behind the article to form a sleeve of filmabout the article. The sleeve is severed from the remainder of the websto form a fresh curtain of film across the path. Each of the sheets issimultaneously fused to the sleeve during the heat shrinking operation.The sleeve and the sheets are heat shrunk about the article.

In accordance with the present invention apparatus for providing asleeve of plastic film tightly around an article including the entiretop surface thereof and the entire bottom surface thereof, comprisesmeans for conveying the article along a path. A first film supplysupplies a first sheet of film above the article covering and extendingbeyond the top surface of the article. A second film supply supplies asecond sheet of film below the article covering and extending beyond thebottom surface of the article. Third and fourth film suppliesrespectively disposed on each side of the path supply third and fourthsheets of film. Sealing and cutting means join the running ends of thethird and fourth sheets together in a junction perpendicular to the pathfor forming the third and fourth sheets into a curtain extending acrossthe path and extending above the top surface of the article and belowthe bottom surface of the article. Joining means joins together spacedportions of the third and fourth sheets closely behind the article toform a sleeve of film around the article.

In order that the present invention may be readily carried into effect,it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention for fully wrapping a pallet load;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of an electrical controlcircuit for the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the first step of an embodiment of the methodof the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the second step of the embodiment of the methodof FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a later step of the embodiment of the method ofFIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a modification of the embodiment of the methodof FIGS. 4, 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of the method of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a modification of the embodiment of the methodof FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the arrangement of the strips at the topand the bottom of an intermediate layer of the pallet load of FIG. 9;and

FIG. 11 is a side view of another embodiment of the method of thepresent invention.

In the FIGS., the same components have the same reference numerals.

The method and apparatus of the present invention are an improvementover the method and apparatus of copending patent application Ser. No.735,366, filed June 7, 1968, by S. Zelnick, since the method andapparatus of the present invention completely and fully covers thepallet load, whereas the method and apparatus of the copendingapplication leaves the top and bottom surfaces of the pallet loaduncovered.

As disclosed in the aforedescribed copending patent application, and asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pallet 11 bearing a load of products such as,for example, stacked boxes 12, is wrapped in a vertical sleeve providedby a sheet or web of film l3 and another sheet or web of film 14 joinedtogether in a vertical weld 15 on the leading face of the load andjoined together in a vertical weld (not shown in the FIGS.) on thetrailing face of the load to form a sleeve 16 around the pallet load(FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9 andll). A portion (not shown in the FIGS.) of thevertical sleeve 16 extends up above the top surface 17 (FIGS. 1, 2, 5,6, 7, 8, 9 and 11) ofthe load. A portion (not shown in the FIGS.) of thevertical sleeve 16 may extend down below the platform 1 1a of thepallet, if desired.

The pallet load 12 may be encircled by the vertical sleeve 16 of heatshrinkable film by any suitable method or apparatus. One such suitablemethod and apparatus is that disclosed in said copending patentapplication.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and as disclosed in said copending patentapplication, the pallet 11 bearing load of stacked boxes 12, is carriedby an open midline in feed conveyor 18 in the direction of anarrow 19. Acurtain of film 13, 14, which has at least some resiliency, extendsacross the conveyor and unwinds from two vertically journaled supplyrolls 21 and 22. A pair of sealing and clamping or sealing and cuttingjaw assemblies, not shown in the FIGS., but fully disclosed in saidcopending patent application, extend vertically and are supportedbetween an overhead, horizontal guide member and a lower horizontalguide member, and are laterally movable by suitablemeans such as, forexample, chains or air cylinders, as fully disclosed in said copendingpatent application.

As disclosed in said copending patent application, the loaded pallet 11is advanced against the curtain 13, 14 of film, and carries said curtainalong, unwinding film from the supply rolls 21 and 22 and between twopairs of pinch rollers 23a, 23b and 24a, 24b (FIG. 1). The loaded pallet11 continues to advance until the trailing edge of said pallet hasadvanced a sufficient distance beyond the jaw assemblies, so as to clearthese assemblies. This position is detected by a photocell, energized bya light source, as disclosed in said pending patent application, and notshown in the FIGS. The photocell actuates a relay circuit to halt theconveyor and to start the jaw assemblies moving towards each other, toclose behind the loaded pallet 11 onto the bightof the web to seal andsever the two superposed webs or sheets of film 13 and 14, thus formingthe vertical sleeve 16 of film about said loaded pallet, andsimultaneously forming a new curtain of film between the supply rolls 21and 22 for the next successive loaded pallet, as disclosed in saidcopending patent application. Details of exemplary structure of the jawassemblies are disclosed in copending patent application, Ser. No.706,601.

In accordance with the present invention, the top surface 17 of thepallet load 12 is covered with a sheet of heat-shrinkable film having aportion extending beyond said surface. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,as the pallet load 12 is conveyed along the infeed conveyor 18 of theautomatic wrapper, its leading edge 25 is sensed by a photocell or othersuitable sensing device 26, 27 (FIG. 1). The sensing device 26, 27actuates film sheet supply apparatus via any suitable couplingarrangement such as, for example, as electrical circuit, as shown inFIG. 3.

When the film sheet supply apparatus is actuated, it supplies a sheet ofheat-shrinkable film 28 from its position over the top surface 17 of thepallet load 12 at the same rate of speed as that of said pallet load.The sheet 28 is thus draped over and covers the top of the pallet load12.

When the trailing edge 29 of the pallet load 12 is sensed by the sensingdevice 26, 27, the sheet 28 is automatically severed or cut by anysuitable means such as, for example, a cutting device coupled by anysuitable coupling arrangement such as, for example, an electricalcircuit, as shown in FIG. 3, to said sensing device.

The sheet 28 is unwound from a supply roll 31, which is suitablyrotatably mounted over the level of the top surface 17 of the palletload 12. The sheet 28 supplied from the supply roll 31 passes between apair of pinch or guide rollers 32a and 32b.

Another sheet of heat shrinkable film may be unwound from a supply rollwhich is suitably rotatably mounted under the conveyor 18 under thelevel of the platform I la of the pallet 11, if desired, to provide asheet of film for covering the bottom surface of the pallet load 12.Since the bottom surface covering sheet may be facilely and rapidlyprovided manually, the bottom-mounted supply roll may be dispensed withand is not disclosed herein.

The length and width of the sheet 28 are so proportioned, relative tothe dimensions of the pallet load 12, that said sheet fully covers thetop surface 17 and also drapes down about 6 inches on each side of saidpallet load (FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 11). After the top sheet 28 iscut, by a cutting device 33 (FIG. 2), for example, the pallet load 12covered at its top surface 17 with said top sheet, is moved into thevertically extending curtain 13, 14 of film, as hereinbefore described,and the vertical sleeve 16 is produced, as hereinbefore described. Theentire pallet load assembly is then moved into heatshrinking and fusingapparatus 34, where the portion of the sleeve 16 which extends above thetop surface 17 of the pallet load is mechanically locked and fused withthe top sheet 28.

After the heat-shrinking and fusing of the sheet of film 28 to thesleeve 16 in the heat shrinking and fusing apparatus 34, the pallet,load is completely covered with a fully sealed, closed watertight topcover. When the top sheet 28 is a relatively thin film, of up to about0.003 or 0.004 inch in thickness, said film is sufficiently flexible orpliable to drape in the desired manner. When considerably thicker filmsare utilized, however, they may be too stiff to drape in the desiredmanner, but may be made more pliable or flexible by the application ofheat simultaneously with the supply of the sheet 28.

It may be desirable to totally seal or wrap the pallet load or articleby covering the bottom surface thereof and fusing the bottom surfacecover with the sleeve 16, in addition to fusing the top surface coverorsheet 28 with said sleeve. Thus, be-

fore the load 12 is positioned on the pallet 11, a bottom sheet of film35 (FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 11) is draped over said pallet. Thebottom sheet 35 is compatible with the vertical sleeve film 16, and isheat-shrinkable film. Thus, if the vertical sleeve 16 is polyethylene,the bottom sheet 35 is also polyethylene.

The bottom sheet 35 is proportioned so that it completely covers thepallet 11 and also drapes down about 4 to 6 inches on each side of saidpallet (FIGS. 2, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 11). After the pallet 11 is covered bythe bottom sheet 35, the load 12 is placed or stacked on said bottomsheet in the usual manner. The pallet load 12 is then covered by the topsheet 28 and the sleeve 16 in the aforedescribed manner, or by a bag.

After the pallet load 12 is stacked on the bottom sheet of film 35 andthe top and sides of said pallet load are covered, the entire palletload assembly is moved into the heat shrinking and fusing apparatus 34,where the portion of the sleeve 16 which extends below the bottomsurface of the pallet load is mechanically locked and fused with saidbottom sheet. The pallet load 12 is then completely sealed at top,bottom and all four sides.

The aforedescribed method of completely covering and sealing the palletload 12 in which the bottom sheet 35 is first draped on the pallet ll,the top sheet 28 is then draped on said pallet load, the sleeve 16 isthen wrapped around said pallet load, and said top and bottom sheets areshrunk and fused with said sleeve, which is also shrunk, is illustratedin FIGS. 4,

5 and 6. In FIG. 4, the bottom sheet 35 is draped on the pallet 11. InFIG. 5, the load 12 covers the bottom sheet 35 on the pallet 11. In FIG.6, the top sheet 28 is draped on the pallet load 12 positioned on thebottom sheet 35 and the sleeve 16 covers said pallet load in overlappingrelation with the sides of each of said top and bottom sheets.

TI-Ie sides of the bottom sheet 35 may be pulled upward around thebottom layer 12a of the pallet load 12, as shown in FIG. 7, rather thanhang or drape down around the pallet 11, as in the embodiment of FIGS.4, 5 and 6. The vertical sleeve 16 fuses with the bottom sheet 35 ofFIG. 7 when said sleeve is shrunk.

In another embodiment of the method of the present invention, each layerof the pallet load 12 is covered with a sheet of film, as shown in FIG.8, In FIG. 8, the bottom layer 12a of the pallet load 12 is covered by asheet 36a, the second layer 12b is covered by a sheet 36b, the thirdlayer 12c is covered by a sheet 360, the fourth layer 12d is covered bya sheet 36d, and the fifth layer 12a is covered by a sheet 36e.

Alternate layers or selected layers of the pallet load 12 may be coveredwith sheets of film in a modification of the embodiment of the method ofFIG. 8, as illustrated in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, only the second layer 12band the fourth layer 12d are covered by sheets 36b and 36d,respectively, besides the top layer 12f being covered by the top sheet28.

The intermediate sheets of film 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d and 362 or 36b and3611 form fusion zones along the entire height of the pallet load 12.The intermediate sheets are not utilized for closure or sealingpurposes, but rather to provide a monolithic honeycomb structure whichimproves the strength and stability of the pallet load 12 considerably.As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the intermediate sheets of film may comprisestrips of film rather than full sheets. The replacement of fullintermediate sheets with intermediate strips provide strength andstability approaching those provided by the full intermediate sheets, ata lower material cost.

In FIG. 9, each of the intermediate sheets 36b and 36d may be anintermediate strip. The first layer 12a of the pallet load 12 bears astrip of film 36a, also shown in FIG. 10, the second layer 12b bears astrip of film 36b, also shown in FIG. 10 and positioned perpendicularlyto the strip 361;. The third layer 120 bears a strip of film 36cpositioned perpendicularly to the strip 36b, the fourth layer 12d bearsa strip of film 36d positioned perpendicularly to the strip 360', andthe fifth layer 12e bears a strip of film 36c positioned perpendicularlyto the strip 36d.

FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of the method of the presentinvention, wherein the vertical sleeve 16 is provided around the palletload 12 before the top sheet 28 is draped over the top of said palletload. The fusing of the top and bottom sheets 28 and 35 with the sleeve16 provided a completely sealed and fully wrapped pallet load.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top sheet 28 supply and cutoff control circuit fora pallet load 12. In FIG. 3, the sensing device 26, 27 comprises a lightsource 26 and a photosensitive device or photocell 27. The source 26 andphotocell 27 are spaced from each other by more than the correspondingdimension of the pallet load, as shown in FIG. 1, and each iselectrically connected in circuit via an amplifier 41.

An output relay 42 of the photocell 27 is connected in a first seriescircuit arrangement with the photocell amplifier 41. When the light beamfrom the light source 26 to the photocell 2 7 is interrupted by theleading edge of the pallet 11 (FIGS. 1 and 2), the output relay 42 isenergized, due to a decrease in the electrical resistance provided bysaid photocell and a corresponding increase in current through saidoutput relay.

A cutoff relay 43 is connected in a second series circuit arrangementwith first electrical contacts 42a of the relay 42 and first electricalcontacts 440 of a lock relay 44. A lock relay 44 is connected in a thirdseries circuit arrangement with a limit switch 45 and the parallelconnection of second electrical contacts 42b of the relay 42 and secondelectrical contacts 44b of the relay 44. A sheet film feed motor 46 isconnected in a fourth series circuit arrangement with third electricalcontacts 420 of the relay 42. A cutoff solenoid 47 of the cutting device33 (FIG. 2) is connected in a fifth series circuit arrangement withfirst electrical contacts 43a of the cutoff relay 43.

The first, second, third, fourth and fifth series circuit arrangementsare connected in parallel across an AC voltage source 48. The AC voltagesource 48 may provide, for example, 1 l0 volts at 60 cycles per second.

When the light beam is interrupted by the pallet 11, so that the outputrelay 42 is energized, as hereinbefore described, said output relaycloses its contacts 42b and 420. When the relay 42 is energized, itopens its normally closed contacts 42a. When the contacts 42c areclosed, The circuit for energizing the sheet film feed motor 46 isclosed, so that said motor operates to feed the film 28 (FIGS. 1 and 2).Simultaneously, when the contacts 42b are closed, the lock relay 44 isenergized, since its energizing circuit is closed through theautomatically operated limit switch 45.

After the pallet 11 has completely passed through the light beam betweenthe light source 26 and the photocell 27, said light beam is restoredand the output relay 42 is deenergized, due to an increase in theelectrical resistance provided by said photocell and a correspondingdecrease of current through said output relay. When the output relay 42is deenergized, it opens its contacts 42b and 43c, but its contacts 42aclose. The contacts 44a of the lock relay 44 are closed, since when saidlock relay is energized, it locks itself into its energized condition byclosing its contacts 44b in series connection with itself.

Thus, the return of the light beam energizes the cutoff relay 43 bydeenergizing the output relay 42 and thereby closing the energizingcircuit of said cutoff relay. When the cutoff relay 43 is energized, itcloses its contacts 43a, thereby closing the energizing circuit of thecutoff solenoid 47 and energizing said cutoff solenoid. At thetermination of the cutting stroke of the cutting device 33, actuated bythe v cutoff solenoid 47, said device closes a circuit which energizes arelay (not shown in the FIGS.) to open the limit switch 45. When thelimit switch 45 is opened, the lock relay 44 is deenergized and opensits own energizing circuit by opening its contacts 44b and that of thecutoff relay 43 by opening its contacts 440, thereby returning thecircuit of FIG. 3 to its initial condition. As hereinbefore stated thecovering for the top and side of the pallet load may be in the form ofan inverted bag which is draped over the load whereby the closed end ofthe bag constitutes the cover for the top of the load, the lower end ofthe inverted bag being fused to the sheet of film which is under theload as above described. Thus, in view of the present disclosure theside of the bag may be considered as a sleeve with which the part of thefilm on top of the load is integral.

While the invention has been described by means of specific examples andin specific embodiments, we do not wish to be limited thereto, forobvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A method of wrapping a pallet load, comprising the steps of coveringthe top surface of the pallet load with a sheet of heat-shrinkable filmhaving a portion extending beyond said top surface so as to provide amarginal edge portion adapted to encircle an upper part of the load;encircling the pallet load with a primary sleeve of heat-shrinkable filminitially separate from said first-mentioned sheet having a portionextending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the pallet load;shrinking said sleeve around said pallet load and fusing said marginaledge of said sheet and said sleeve to each other, said method furthercomprising placing a second sheet of heatshrinkable film on the palletbefore the load is placed on the pallet, and fusing said sleeve to saidsecond sheet.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sheet of heatshrinkablefilm is arranged on the pallet with a portion extending below theplatform of the pallet, and fusing the sleeve and said portion to eachother.

3. A method of wrapping a pallet load, comprising the steps of coveringthe top surface of the pallet load with a sheet of heat-shrinkable filmhaving a portion extending beyond said top surface so as to provide amarginal edge portion adapted to encircle an upper part of the load;encircling the pallet load with a primary sleeve of heat-shrinkable filminitially separate from said first-mentioned sheet having a portionextending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the pallet load;shrinking said sleeve around said pallet load and fusing said marginaledge of said sheet and said sleeve to each other, said method beingfurther characterized in that the pallet load is arranged in a pluralityof layers on the pallet, and further comprising the steps of coveringthe surface of selected ones of the layers of the pallet load withsheets of heat-shrinkable film each having a portion extending beyondthe covered surface of the corresponding layers, and shrinking andfusing each of said sheets to said sleeve.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein a sheet of film is placed onthe surface of each of the layers of the pallet load.

5. A methodas claimed in claim 3, comprising disposing strips of filmbetween selected layers of the load with strip of the film each having aportion extending beyond the surface of the corresponding layer, andfusing each of said strips to the sleeve.

6. A method as claimed in claim further comprising partially coveringthe surface of each of the layers of the pallet load with a strip offilm.

7. A method of wrapping a pallet load, comprising the steps of coveringthe top surface of the pallet load with a sheet of heat-shrinkable filmhaving a portion extending beyond said top surface so as to provide amarginal edge portion adapted to encircle an upper part of the load;encircling the pallet load with a primary sleeve of heat-shrinkable filminitially separate from said first-mentioned sheet having a portionextending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the pallet load;shrinking said sleeve around said pallet load and fusing said marginaledge of said sheet and said sleeve to each other, said method beingfurther characterized in that the pallet load is encircled by the sleevebefore it is covered by the sheet.

8. A method of providing a sleeve of plastic film tightly around anarticle including the entire top surface thereof and the entire bottomsurface thereof, said method comprising the steps of providing a pathfor the article;

covering the top. surface of the article with a sheet of heatshrinkablefilm having a portion extending beyond the top surface and along thesides of the article;

placing the article on a sheet of heat-shrinkable film so that thebottom surface of said article covers said last-mentioned sheet and saidlast-mentioned sheet has a portion extending away from said bottomsurface;

joining together in a vertical junction the running ends of two webs offilm from respective supplies thereof on opposite sides of the path toprovide a curtain of film across said path;

advancing the article against the curtain of film to carry said curtainalong the path, withdrawing additional film from said supplies, andforming a bight in said curtain around said article; joining together ina vertical junction two spaced-apart portions of the bight of filmclosely behind the article to form a sleeve of film about said article;

severing the sleeve from the remainder of the webs to form a freshcurtain of film across the path; and

simultaneously fusing each of the sheets to the sleeve.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising the step of heatshrinking the sleeve and the sheets around the article.

10. Apparatus for providing a sleeve of plastic film tightly around anarticle including the entire top surface thereof and the peripheralsurface thereof, said apparatus comprising means for conveying thearticle along a path; first film supply means for supplyin a first sheetof film above the article covering and exten mg beyond the top surfaceof said article;

second and third film supply means respectively disposed on each side ofthe path for supplying second and third sheets of film; sealing andcutting means for joining the running ends of said second and thirdsheets together in a junction perpendicular to the path for forming saidsecond and third sheets into a curtain extending across said path andextending above the top surface of the article and below the bottomsurface of said article; joining means for joining together spaceportions of the second and third sheets closely behind the article toform a sleeve of film around said article; and means for fusing saidfirst sheet with the sleeve.

11. A method of wrapping a pallet load comprising the steps of firstcovering the upper surface of the pallet with a sheet of thermoplasticfilm, with a peripheral marginal edge portion of said sheet of filmextending outwardly beyond the peripheral edge of the pallet, disposingthe load on said sheet on the pallet, encircling the load and the palletwith thermoplastic film, and shrinking said encircling film around theload and the pallet and fusing it to the peripheral marginal edgeportion of said sheet of film.

1. A method of wrapping a pallet load, comprising the steps of coveringthe top surface of the pallet load with a sheet of heatshrinkable filmhaving a portion extending beyond said top surface so as to provide amarginal edge portion adapted to encircle an upper part of the load;encircling the pallet load with a primary sleeve of heat-shrinkable filminitially separate from said first-mentioned sheet having a portionextending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the pallet load;shrinking said sleeve around said pallet load and fusing said marginaledge of said sheet and said sleeve to each other, said method furthercomprising placing a second sheet of heatshrinkable film on the palletbefore the load is placed on the pallet, and fusing said sleeve to saidsecond sheet.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sheet ofheat-shrinkable film is arranged on the pallet with a portion extendingbelow the platform of the pallet, and fusing the sleeve and said portionto each other.
 3. A method of wrapping a pallet load, comprising thesteps of covering the top surface of the pallet load with a sheet ofheat-shrinkable film having a portion extending beyond said top surfaceso as to provide a marginal edge portion adapted to encircle an upperpart of the load; encircling the pallet load with a primary sleeve ofheat-shrinkable film initially separate from said first-mentioned sheethaving a portion extending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of thepallet load; shrinking said sleeve around said pallet load and fusingsaid marginal edge of said sheet and said sleeve to each other, saidmethod beIng further characterized in that the pallet load is arrangedin a plurality of layers on the pallet, and further comprising the stepsof covering the surface of selected ones of the layers of the palletload with sheets of heat-shrinkable film each having a portion extendingbeyond the covered surface of the corresponding layers, and shrinkingand fusing each of said sheets to said sleeve.
 4. A method as claimed inclaim 3, wherein a sheet of film is placed on the surface of each of thelayers of the pallet load.
 5. A method as claimed in claim 3, comprisingdisposing strips of film between selected layers of the load with stripof the film each having a portion extending beyond the surface of thecorresponding layer, and fusing each of said strips to the sleeve.
 6. Amethod as claimed in claim 5 further comprising partially covering thesurface of each of the layers of the pallet load with a strip of film.7. A method of wrapping a pallet load, comprising the steps of coveringthe top surface of the pallet load with a sheet of heat-shrinkable filmhaving a portion extending beyond said top surface so as to provide amarginal edge portion adapted to encircle an upper part of the load;encircling the pallet load with a primary sleeve of heat-shrinkable filminitially separate from said first-mentioned sheet having a portionextending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the pallet load;shrinking said sleeve around said pallet load and fusing said marginaledge of said sheet and said sleeve to each other, said method beingfurther characterized in that the pallet load is encircled by the sleevebefore it is covered by the sheet.
 8. A method of providing a sleeve ofplastic film tightly around an article including the entire top surfacethereof and the entire bottom surface thereof, said method comprisingthe steps of providing a path for the article; covering the top surfaceof the article with a sheet of heat-shrinkable film having a portionextending beyond the top surface and along the sides of the article;placing the article on a sheet of heat-shrinkable film so that thebottom surface of said article covers said last-mentioned sheet and saidlast-mentioned sheet has a portion extending away from said bottomsurface; joining together in a vertical junction the running ends of twowebs of film from respective supplies thereof on opposite sides of thepath to provide a curtain of film across said path; advancing thearticle against the curtain of film to carry said curtain along thepath, withdrawing additional film from said supplies, and forming abight in said curtain around said article; joining together in avertical junction two spaced-apart portions of the bight of film closelybehind the article to form a sleeve of film about said article; severingthe sleeve from the remainder of the webs to form a fresh curtain offilm across the path; and simultaneously fusing each of the sheets tothe sleeve.
 9. A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising thestep of heat shrinking the sleeve and the sheets around the article. 10.Apparatus for providing a sleeve of plastic film tightly around anarticle including the entire top surface thereof and the peripheralsurface thereof, said apparatus comprising means for conveying thearticle along a path; first film supply means for supplying a firstsheet of film above the article covering and extending beyond the topsurface of said article; second and third film supply means respectivelydisposed on each side of the path for supplying second and third sheetsof film; sealing and cutting means for joining the running ends of saidsecond and third sheets together in a junction perpendicular to the pathfor forming said second and third sheets into a curtain extending acrosssaid path and extending above the top surface of the article and belowthe bottom surface of said article; joining means for joining togetherspace portions of the second and third shEets closely behind the articleto form a sleeve of film around said article; and means for fusing saidfirst sheet with the sleeve.
 11. A method of wrapping a pallet loadcomprising the steps of first covering the upper surface of the palletwith a sheet of thermoplastic film, with a peripheral marginal edgeportion of said sheet of film extending outwardly beyond the peripheraledge of the pallet, disposing the load on said sheet on the pallet,encircling the load and the pallet with thermoplastic film, andshrinking said encircling film around the load and the pallet and fusingit to the peripheral marginal edge portion of said sheet of film.